Timepiece with electronically designed digital read-out

ABSTRACT

In a timepiece having an electronically designed read out, an improved means which makes it possible to manually operate and set at least part of the digital readout elements. The setting means comprise a preselector capable of being set in different positions and a driving mechanism. Both the preselector and driving mechanism are arranged in such a manner that the position occupied by the preselector at the time that the driving mechanism is manipulated determines the element or elements of the digital read-out to be affected by the manipulation as well as the function accorded by the manipulation.

United States Patent 1191 Girard 11 3,733,810 51 May 22, 1973 [54]TIMEPIECE WITH ELECTRONICALLY DESIGNED DIGITAL READ-OUT [75] Inventor:Pierre Girard, Bienne, Switzerland [73] Assignee: Manufacture desMontres Rolex S.A. Bienue, Bienne, Canton of Berne,

Switzerland 221 Filed: Mans, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 121,251

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data I Mar. 6, 1970 Switzerland..3337/70 [52] US. Cl ..58/4 A, 58/23 R, 58/50 R,

58/85.5 [51] Int. Cl. ...G04b 19/24, G04b 19/30, G04b 27/00 [58] Fieldof Search ..58/4 A, 23 R, 42.5, 58/43, 50 R, 85.5, 152 R; 307/222;328/44 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,613,352 10/1971Giersieden .r58/50X July 3,576,099 4 1971 Walton ..ss/23 R x 3,186,1586/1965 Miller ..ss/42.5 3,300,771 1/1967 Wagner ..S8/39.5 x

Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Assistant Examiner-Edith C. SimmonsJackson Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher 57] ABSTRACT In atimepiece having an electronically designed read out, an improved meanswhich makes it possible to manually operate and set at least part of thedigital readout elements. The setting means comprise a preselectorcapable of being set in different positions and a driving mechanism.Both the preselector and driving mechanism are arranged in such a mannerthat the position occupied by the preselector at the time that thedriving mechanism is manipulated determines the element or elements ofthe digital read-out to be affected by the manipulation as well as thefunction accorded by the manipulation.

37 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Cal/N TIE DIV/DER 0550x811 7A 555 23 c h 0g P5600515 S TAGIS PATamgmaYazms SHEET 1 UF 4 7 Monl7dulvw a 7 IE EB H5./2

PAT T rm 2197s 5,733,810

SHEET 2 OF 4 PATENTEU M2 3.733310 SHEET 3 OF 4 PATENTED MAY 2 21975SHEET U UF 4 TIMEPIECE WITH ELECTRONICALLY DESIGNED DIGITAL READ-OUT Thepresent invention has to do with a timepiece with electronicallydesigned digital read-out, equipped with means making it possible tomanually operate at least part of the digital read-out elements.

The manual operation of the elements of digital readout in such atimepiece can be brought about in several ways. In some timepieces withdigital read-out for each element of digital read-out or for each groupof readout elements, or possibly only for each one of some of thesegroups there is an individual means of manual control which, when setinto operation, affects the corresponding read-out element or group ofread-out elements.

This form of manual control or operation presents several disadvantages.One of these disadvantages consists in that it requires as many externalcontrol elements as there are elements of digital read-out or groups ofelements of digital read-out to be operated manually. Another one ofthese disadvantages lies in the fact that the timepiece may accidentallyget out of order as a result of an involuntary action on one of thesecontrol means.

It would also be possible, at least theoretically, to manually controlthe digital read-out of a timepiece in the same manner as one operatesthe hands of a conventional timepiece. Such a solution, however, wouldbe irksomeand would also present the disadvantage of not takingadvantage of the facilities of separate control of different groups ofread-out which is offered by the principle of digital read-out.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a timepiece withdigital read-out of the type previously mentioned but not having thedisadvantages stated.

In accordance with the invention, the timepiece with electronicallydesigned digital read-out, equipped with means making it possible tomanually operate at least part of the digital read-out elements, ischaracterized in that said means comprise a preselector which is capableof being placed in different positions and adriving mechanism both ofwhich are arranged in such a manner that the position occupied by thepreselector at the time when the driving mechanism is manipulateddetermines the element or elements of digital read-out affected by themanipulation of the driving mechanism, as well as the function accordingto which this element or these elements of digital read-out are affectedby this manipulation.

The means for accomplishing the foregoing objects and other advantages,which will be apparent to those skilled in the art are set forth in thefollowing specification and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings dealing with a basic embodiment of the presentinvention. Reference is made now to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents, in top plan view, a wrist watch with a rectangularshaped digital read-out;

FIG. 2 shows the watch of FIG. 1 in bottom plan view;

FIG. 3 schematically shows an annular preselector piece included in thiswatch;

FIG. 4 shows, schematically and in partial section, the drivingmechanism having the form of a winding rod working together with thepreselector piece shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line V-V of FIG. 2 through the back ofthe watch carrying electric contact switching elements;

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view schematically showing the electric contactswitching elements which are visible in section in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an electrical block level schematic showing certain electroniccircuits of the watch and illustrating the working together of thedriving mechanism, preselector and electronic elements;

FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates aparticular operating case; and

FIG. 9.is a block diagram representing the essentials of the group ofelectronic circuits in the watch.

In FIG. I, which represents the wrist watch in top plan view, the watchcase 1 has two rectangular windows in which there appear, respectively,a group of digits 2 having the information necessary to give the time(for example 12 hours 26 minutes and 48 seconds) and a group of digits 3having the information which is necessary to give the day and the date(for example Monday 17 July). FIG. 1 also shows a driving mechanism 4which has an external shape and a side positioning similar to those of awinding crown mounted on a winding rod of an ordinary mechanicaltimepiece. It should be noted that in other types of design the watchcould also be of an angular shape, or a round shape, and a design ofidentical type could also have to do with a watch in the form of a smallclock, for example of the kind whose front area does not exceedapproximately 25 square centimeters.

FIG. 2 shows the watch of FIG. 1 as seen from beneath. Besides thedriving mechanism 4, which is also visible in FIG. 2, there is, locatedagainst the bottom of the watch, a crown 5 carrying indications A, B, Cetc., the center of this crown being occupied by a cap 6 which, at thesame time it serves to hold the crown 5, constitutes the unscrewablecover of a housing for a miniature electric battery which provides theelectric power for the operation of the watch. The bottom of this watchalso carries a marking or index 7 which constitutes the indicatoropposite which the various indication A, B, C etc. carried by the crown5 are placed according to the angular position imparted to the crown 5.As will be seen further on in conjunction with FIG. 5, the crown 5 canbe manipulated in the manner of a rotating button.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the mechanical operation of the crown 5, whichconstitutes a preselector 8, and of the driving mechanism 4. FIG. 5shows a preselector annular element 8 which is mounted underneath thecrown 5 so that it can move solidly in rotation therewith. Thispreselector element 8 has a number of notches equal to the number ofindications (A, B, C etc.) carried by the crown 5. One of the twelvenotches shown in element 8 is deeper than the other notches. FIG. 3 alsoshows that a flexible spring blade 17 causes the preselector element 8to stop in well determined positions.

FIG. 4 shows the driving mechanism 4 which has an outer end in the formof a winding crown and a rod composed of various elements intended forestablishing an electrical switching contact which operates when thedriving mechanism 4 is pulled and pushed. These various elements of thedriving mechanism which are intended for an electrical function will beexamined later. The rod of the driving mechanism has, at its extremity,a support element which works together with a lever 13, pivoted at 14,and which acts resiliently so as to tend to bias the driving mechanism 4towards the exterior. The rod of the driving mechanism also has a gougeby means of which the longitudinal movements of the driving mechanismare imparted to a square element 16 one of the wings of which (visiblein FIG. 4) is slit in such a way as to take on the form of a fork thetwo branches of which lock into the gouge which the rod of the drivingmechanism presents right behind the support element 10. This squareelement 16 is arranged by means, not shown, to slide longitudinally, andits other wing, the extremity of which is cut symmetrically v in obliquefashion, penetrates into one of the slits of the when the deep notch ofthe element 8 is situated against the square element 16 which isconnected longitudinally to the driving mechanism 4 than when one of theother notches of the element 8 is opposite this square element 16. Itcan also be seen in FIG. 4 that the crown of the driving mechanism has ascrew spacing which is identical to that which is known for the crownsof windows of certain waterproof watches. When the large notch of thepreselector element 8 is opposite the square element 16, the drivingmechanism can make its maximum entry inside of the watch and the screwthread channel 15 can be screwed into a corresponding screw threadchannel presented by the watch case (not shown). In this position itwill naturally be impossible to rotate the preselector element 8 and thecrown 5 to which it is connected. If the crown is unscrewed from thedriving mechanism, then the driving mechanism returns towards theexterior under the action of the resilient lever 13. It will then bepossible to turn the crown 5 and the preselector element 8 which isconnected to it in such a way as to bring opposite the square piece 16one of the eleven other notches of the preselector element 8. Since theother eleven notches are not as deep, it will then be possible to pushthe driving mechanism only to a partial degree towards the inside of thewatch. As will be seen further on, however, this partial movement willbe sufficient to bring about the electrical switching which will carryout one of numerous possible functions chosen (in a manner which will beexamined further on) with the aid of the crown 5 constituting apreselector element.

FIG. 5 represents a sectional view through the bottom of the watch takenalong the line VV of FIG. 2. The watch case 1 includes a primary bottomplate It: below which are found various elements which make up thewatch, and in particular the electronic read-out elements which are notshown in FIG. 5. The watch case 1 passes beyond the bottom plate latowards the rear and the preselector crown 5 is mounted in such a way asto make up the visible bottom of the watch. At the center of theelement, attached to the bottom plate 1a, there is a cylindrical element6a forming the case for the battery already mentioned in connection withFIG. 1. The cover 6 is screwed onto the cylindrical element 6a and hasan annular flange holding the preselector crown 5 in place. Thepreselector crown 5 engages at its periphery into an annular groove inthe watch case 1. Even though the watch is rectangular, it must beunderstood that the space represented in FIG. 5 above the bottom platela is round.

It is thus clearly evident that when the preselector crown 5 is mountedas shown in FIG. 5, it can be manipulated by the fingers of an operatorgrasping it sideways so that it is moved in rotation in a plane which isperpendicular to the plane of the figure. This rotation, however, cannotbe imparted unless the square element 16 (FIG. 4) has freed thepreselector element 8.

FIG. 5 shows that the preselector crown 5 includes an inside bearingsurface 5a around which various elements are arranged. These elementsare first of all the preselector element 8, which can also be seen inFIG. 5 and which is forced around the bearing element 5a. Since thesection of FIG. 5 is in the vertical direction with respect to FIG. 2,the entire group of the driving mechanism 4 with its various additionalelements, and in particular the square element 16, is not shown in FIG.5.

Immediately below the preselector element 8, the bearing surface 5acarries an assembly 22 comprising first and second annular elements 22aand 22b of insulating material which are forced onto the preselectorcrown 5. A resilient element 220 separates the two annular elements ofinsulating material so that the crown assembly 22 can move very slightlyin the axial direction but is connected to the preselector crown 5 inrotation. This crown assembly 22 carries, at only one place on itssurface, a rubbing contact element 21 which establishes an electriccontact between a contact ring 23 and one of a group of contact studs18. The contact ring 23 and the group of contact studs 18 are supportedby a crown of insulating material 19 which is attached to the batterycase 6a.

FIG. 6 presents a schematic plan view of this crown 19 together with thecontact ring 23 and the group of studs 18. In this figure the contactring 23 is contacting one of the studs 18. This contact is intended forfacilitating the electrical connection which is supposed to assure aconnection with the contact ring 23. A rotation of the crown assembly 22causes the contact element 21 to subsequently establish an electricalcontact between the contact ring 23 and each one of the studs 18. In theposition where this contact element 21 is above the stud 18a alreadyconnected to the ring 23 no individual contact is established thusforming a zero position of the switch. The respective angular positionof the large notch of the preselector element 8, of the contact element21, and of the stud 18a will be such that the contact element 21 ends upon the stud 18 which is connected to the ring 23 when the large notch ofthe preselector element 8 is opposite the square piece 16 (FIG. 4).

It is now appropriate to come back to FIG. 4 to examine how themanipulation of the driving mechanism causes the opening or closing ofelectrical contacts. FIG. 4 shows that the rod of the driving mechanismis composed of a central rod 9 around which there are threaded twosockets 11 and 11a made of insulating material. The socket 11, at itsextremity which is close to the socket 11a, has a bearing surface ofsmall diameter around which a socket 12 made of conducting materialslides. Three contact elements 15a, b, c are shown schematically and areactually formed of elastic conducting laminas which rest against theexternal diameter of the rod. In the position shown in FIG. 4, thesquare element 16 penetrates into the large notch of the preselectorelement 8 and the rod is driven to the maximum towards the inside of thewatch. When the driving mechanism is released by unscrewing the crownfrom it, the rod returns completely towards the outside of the watch(that is to say towards the left in FIG. 4) and the conducting socket 12opens an electrical contact between the contact elements 15a and 15b. Atthis time, with the driving mechanism towards the exterior, it ispossible, if so desired,'to turn the preselector crown 5 in order tobring opposite the square element 16 another one of the notches of thispreselector element. When the latter has assumed the desired position,the driving mechanism is depressed to a partial extent which isdetermined by the smallest depth of the notch into which thesquare'element 16 will penetrate. This depth is such that at the timewhen the driving mechanism is pressed so as to make the square piece 16penetrate into the bottom of the notch the conducting socket l2 ceasesto establish an electrical contact between the contact elements 15a and15b and then establishes an electrical contact between the contactelements 15b and 150. According to the function which is then performed(a function which is determined by the position of the preselectorcrown, a matter which will be examined further on) it may be necessaryto manipulate the driving mechanism several times or just once. Afterhaving pressed it in such a way as to establish a contact between thecontact elements 15b and 15c it is then released and, if necessary, itis operated one or more times again, and each time that the drivingmechanism is shifted lengthwise an electrical switching is carried outaffecting the three contact elements 15a, 15b and 15c in the manner ofan ordinary switch whose contact element 15b would be the commonconnection point. Needless to say, it would also be possible to achievethe switching mentioned above by other means, in particular by means offlexible contact elements moved by a part of the rod of the drivingmechanism playing the role of a cam. It would also be possible,according to the case, to make more than one contact of the switchingtype react to the movement of the driving mechanism.

Knowledge of the manner of functioning of the two electrical contactgroups, i.e. the group of contacts 15a, 15b and 150 and the group ofcontacts formed by the ring 23 and the various studs 18 makes itpossible to understand the electronic functioning of the means making itpossible to control the read-out elements of the electronic watch. It isnecessary first of all, however, to examine what are the various typesof action which the positioning of the preselector should make itpossible to achieve.

First of all, the manner in which the electronic readout is furnished bythe watch will be examined. Without delving into the technical meanswhich are put into play to achieve this read-out, it can be pointed outbriefly that the elements of read-out are formed preferably of luminousnumbers which themselves are formed of elements of composition of aminimum number of seven, but preferably of a greater number. It isevident that the read-out elements could also be formed in a differentway, for example by means of elements operating on the basis ofaprinciple similar to that ofNixie tubes but under a voltage and with apower compatible with the low source of energy available. If a timepiecewhich is similar to the watch described but of a larger size were used,for example a small-sized clock or even a large-sized clock, theread-out could naturally be done through the intermediary ofconventional optical electronic means or at least means which are known.

The watch which is shown in FIG. 1 is a watch which supplies the timebroken down into 24 hours, that is to say that this watch in the middleof the afternoon, for example, shows 15:30 and not 3:30. Obviously itwould also be possible to design this watch in a way that it wouldindicate the hours of the morning and the hours of the afternoon bynever going past the indication of 12 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds(as happens in the telling of time in the United States) or also bynever going beyond 11 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds (as is currentpractice in time telling in certain European countries).

The technique of digital read-out has reached such a point that it wouldalso be possible to read the fractions of an hour situated between 30and 59 minutes not by addition but by subtraction, that is to say toindicate for example 8 hours less 15 minutes (15 minutes to 8) insteadof 7:45. It would be possible to even go further than this by expressingby plus or minus of fractions of an hour (half an hour, quarter of anhour, possibly even 10 minutes and 5 minutes) so as to give acorresponding indication at all points under the usual manner ofexpression of the users.

In the case of the watch which is shown in FIG. 1 the indication of thedate is given by a first indication concerning the days of the week, asecond indication concerning the day of the month, and a thirdindication concerning the particular month. In some cases it would beappropriate to reverse the order of indication of the month and of theday of the month, as is current practice in the Anglo-Saxon countries.Let us also point out that the digital indication of the day of the weekand of the month can be done for the day of the week by indicating amaximum of two letters and for the months by indicating up to fourletters, even though an indication of two letters adequately coded couldalso be sufficient if necessary.'The letters necessary to form the namesof the days of the week and the names of the months would theoreticallyrequire a number of elements of composition much greater than thenumbers, but this number is reduced by the fact that at a given placethere is no need to be able to indicate all of the letters of thealphabet but only a certain number of them. The composing of numbers orletters with the aid of elements of composition is a relatively wellknown technique into which it is not necessary to delve at this time.

The watch with digital electronic read-out in question is driven by aquartz oscillator and the variation in its daily operation is thereforeextremely small. Despite the very small possibility of the watch runningbehind or ahead it would be advantageous to have the possibility ofgaining or losing just a few seconds. It is this possibility which willprobably be used the most often. in certain cases it might also benecessary to make a correction of more than one minute and it would thennaturally be advantageous to be able to act in effect on the minuteindicator and not to have to make a correction which is 60 times longerthan a correction involving the second indicator. Furthermore, in caseswhen, in particular, the watch has stopped running, owing to a deadbattery or the absence of a battery, it would also be advantageous to beable to act on the digital information of the hours, but it is clearthat this particular possibility will be used the most rarely.

Since the watch being described here is an electronic watch and since ittherefore has the possibility, which is lacking in mechanical watches,of advancing at a speed which is 100 times, 1,000 times or even 10,000times greater than its normal speed of advance, it has been provided tobring about the advance which is sup posed to involve only the hours bysending to the input of the electronic divider forming the timeinformation a signal having a frequency of approximately one thousandHz, that is to say that approximately 3.6 seconds are necessary to makethe digital information advance by 1 hour. When one proceeds in thismanner it is clear that one will observe nothing other than the digitalinformation of the hours, since the movement of the signs indicating theminutes and the seconds are too fast to be able to be followed. It willthus be possible to first of all put the watch on the hour withoutworrying about the minutes, by means of this frequency of about 1,000Hz. Then, for the adjustment to the minute it is provided that there besent to the input of the divider a frequency of about 60 Hz, that is tosay that the information of the minutes will advance by approximatelyone unit every second. In this way it is possible to set the watch onthe minute. Then, to establish the exact setting down to the second afrequency of 2 Hz is fed to the input of the divider. This will gainback a second each second. Thus, by being sure, at the time of the firsttwo rapid and approximate settings to the hour, of always remainingrather below and not above the indication which should be furnished, itis possible to obtain very quickly a setting to the hour of the digitalread-out watch, the last touch being given to the setting to the hour bythe action on the digital information of the seconds which, assuring anadvance of two units per second, will occur at a rather slow speed to beable to be achieved with accuracy. It will also be necessary, however,to be able to slow down the watch by a few seconds in order not to haveto advance the watch by l 1 hours 59 minutes and 57 seconds to slow thewatch down by a few seconds, for example. A possibility of stopping theadvance of the digital information should therefore, because of thisfact, be also provided for, this possibility amounting in effect tolosing a second each second (whereas the advance at twice the speedconstituted a possibility of gaining one second each second).

The four different possibilities of setting the time mentioned above arebrought about, each one of them, by manipulation of the drivingmechanism 4 while the preselector has been placed in a different one ofits twelve positions. Considering FIG. 2, the position E of thepreselector crown 5 is situated opposite the indicating mark. Position Edeals with normal operation, that is to say that the large notch of thepreselector element 8 will be opposite the square piece 16 and that thecrown of the driving mechanism can be screwed into the case. If thedriving mechanism is released in this position, it will be possible toactivate it any number of times without anything happening. On the otherhand, if, the driving mechanism having been drawn into this position,one turns the preselector so as to introduce one of the four positionsD, C, B or A, there are four possibilities of acting on the read-out ofthe watch. Bearing in mind the fact that the corrections of more than 1second (that is to say double-time operation) and of less than 1 second(that is to say stop) will be used the most often, it has been providedto make these corrections correspond to the two positions C and D of ismade by the intermediary of a frequency of approximately 1,000 cyclesand which produces an advance of one unit of hour approximately every3.6 seconds.

In order to make each one of the four corrections which have beenmentioned above, the exact procedure to be followed starting with theposition of normal operation in which the driving mechanism 4 is screwedin the watch, is the following:

First of all the crown of the driving mechanism is unscrewed and allowedto return as far as possible towards the exterior so as to release therotating movement of the preselector crown 5; then the indicator 7 isbrought to the desired marked position of the preselector crown S, thatis to say, according to the particular case, the position D (stop), theposition C (advance, second), the position B (advance minute), or theposition A (advance, hour). Once the crown of preselector 5 has beenplaced in the appropriate position, the driving mechanism 4 is depressedand from that instant on and right up to the time that the drivingmechanism is allowed to return towards the outside'the advance of thedigital information takes place at the speed which is selected by thepreselector (or does not take place at all if the stop position has beenselected). As soon as the driving mechanism is released the watch willreturn to normal operation. When the adjustment to the hour which has tobe done is large, one will proceed successively by a manipulation of thedriving mechanism in the A position of the preselector, then in the Bposition of the preselector, then in the C position and then possiblyalso in the D position of the preselector. This is a gradation which isapt to facilitate the operation of time setting for a user with littleexperience.

It is needless to say that one could also, in certain design variations,only provide for part of the four possibilities of time settingmentioned above. According to the case, it is possible to do away withthe advance at the speed of 1 hour every 3.6 seconds, or also, and thisis evident, of the advance of 2 seconds per second in the case that onewould not be posting the information of the seconds but only theinformation of the hours and of the minutes.

The positions of the preselector situated on the other side of theposition of normal operation (E) are reserved for various operationswhich are different from the time setting operations mentionedpreviously. They differ by the fact that there no longer is, aspreviously, an operation which lasts as long as the driving mechanism ispressed and which ceases immediately after the driving mechanism hasbeen released, but now there is a unique operation which takes placeeach time that the driving mechanism is pressed, an identical uniquesecond operation not being able to take place except as the result of aprior releasing of the driving mechanism followed by another pressing onit. This necessity of assuring oneself first of all that the drivingmechanism has actually been released prior to executing a secondoperation identical to a first operation already executed explains thenecessity to arrange the contact 15a, b, c

in the manner of a switching contact and not simply in the manner of aninterrupting contact. The exact functioning from the electronic point ofview will be explained subsequently in conjunction with the figuresrepresenting the electrical diagram of the watch.

The different operations which a manipulation of the driving mechanismcauses when the preselector has been placed in position F. G. H. etc.,will now be successively described.

When, after having been freed by unscrewing and releasing of the drivingmechanism, the preselector has been placed in the F position amanipulation of the driving mechanism will cause a return to a fixedhour. The procedure for this operation is the following: right from thetime that the driving mechanism has been pressed (the preselector beingin the F position) the digital read-out is brought to the indicationhours 0 minutes 0 seconds (or possibly 12 hours 0 minutes 0 seconds inthe case of US. type watches). Then, at the moment when the drivingmechanism is released pulses are sent, by means of the action of anelectronic logic with gates, at a frequency of approximately 4,000 Hz tothe place of the counting device of the watch which constitutes theentrance of the minute counter (therefore the place where the output ofthe secondscounting device normally sends a pulse every minute) so thatafter a time which is determined by the fixed hour to which the read-outis to be returned, a time which will be of a maximum of about one thirdof a second, the read-out will have reached the preselected indication.An electronic decoding device detects the arrival of the read-out at thedesired position and at that moment disconnects the frequency of about4,000 Hz and the watch continues to operate starting with thepreselected time. Since this return to a fixed time lasts less than onesecond the speed of the seconds is not disrupted. If we admit that anormal second pulse had entered right at the moment when the drivingmechanism has been released, the following second pulse which will bringthe read-out to indicate the selected fixed time plus one second willoccur a fraction of a second after the moment when the read-out hasreached said preselected indication. If we assume, for example, thatthis indication reading is 12 hours 45 seconds (12:45) (the time signalof a French-speaking Swiss radio station) the time required for theread-out to pass from 000 to 12:45 will correspond to 60 X 12 45 periodswhich, at the frequency of 4,000 Hz approximately, will require a timeof approximately 0.19 second. One could also provide for a fixed timesetting corresponding to an indication of a time in round figures, forexample 2,000 hours, and in this case one would only need to act at theinput of the hours counter, or possibly at the input of the counter oftens of hours (starting with the indication 00 h 00 min 00 see, it wouldonly be necessary, for example, to change the first zero into a two inorder to obtain the reading of h 00 min 00 sec). From the electronicpoint of view, as soon as the setting to a fixed time has been made thereleased positioning of the driving mechanism becomes of no effect. Itis clear that this method of setting the time can be repeated as oftenas desired, but it does not make any sense except when the releasing ofthe driving mechanism takes place at the exact moment when, for example,by means of the radio, a time signal is heard which corresponds to thepreselected indication. The decoding of this preselected time can beadjusted for example by means of a screw which is placed at one oranother place so as to establish different possible connections insideof the watch. The watch dealer who sells the watch can then, accordingto the customers wishes, select the read-out of fixed-time setting whichis appropriate.

In the positions G and H of the preselector the manipulation of thedriving mechanism will cause, respectively, an advance or a delay of 1hour exactly. This operation, by means of which the indication of thehours is made to advance or go back directly without affecting theminutes and of the seconds, is intended for permitting an adaptation atthe time changes of time zones. If, for example, during an airplaneflight, the owner of the watch penetrates in one direction or the otherfor example five time zone boundaries he will have to press and releasethe driving mechanism five times in order to set his watch at the timecorresponding to the new time zone.

In the J and K positions of the preselector a manipulation of thedriving mechanism will cause, respectively, an advance or a delay of oneday in the indication of the day of the month. By means of this action adirect action is established on the electronic elements providing theread-out of the day of the month. The first one of these operations (inthe J position of the preselector) which makes it possible to advancethe day of the month will be used in particular at the end of each monthcomprising less than 31 days. The other operation (position K) isintended for rectifying possible errors such as the error which could becommitted by thinking for example that the month of October only has 30days and by causing the indicator of the day of the month to jump fromOctober 30 to November 1 although the next day is actually the 31st ofOctober.

In the L position of the preselector each manipulation of the drivingmechanism causes a one step advance in the indication of the day of theweek. This possibility would not need to be used in practice except asthe result of an interruption in operation of more than a day in thewatch and this is one of the reasons why the corresponding position isone of the last positions of the preselector. No position for bringingback by one day of the week has been provided for since a bringing backof one day can always be done by advancing by six days (six successivemanipulations of the driving mechanism while the preselector is situatedin the L position).

In the M position of the preselector a manipulation of the drivingmechanism causes an advance of one step in the month indication.Normally this operation is not performed except in the case when thewatch has not been working for a long period of time, that is to saythat this would in all probability be the operation which is used theleast often. This is the reason why it has the last position of thepreselector. Similarly to what has been said for the days of the week,no possibility for a backing up of a month has been provided for, sincea backing up of 1 month can always be done by advancing 11 months.

As shown in the drawing, the preselector composed of the crown 5 and ofthe elements which it supports can carry out a complete turn so thatstarting from the M position it would also be possible to return to theposition of normal operation (E) by passing through the positions A, B,C, D instead of bypassing through the positions L, K, J, H, G, F.

In order to prevent the possible danger of the timepiece getting out oforder through an improper manipulation of the driving mechanism at thetime when one returns from the M position to the position of normaloperation, it will be possible, by mechanical means which are easy tovisualize and which are not represented, to prevent the preselector frommaking a complete turn by preventing any angular displacement whichwould cause it to pass from the M position to the A position or from theA position to the M position.

It is appropriate to once more state at this time that in certain designvariations, it could very well be possible to have only a part of thepositions of the preselector F, G, H, J, K, L and M. It could bepossible, for example, to do away with the positions having to do withthe advance or back-up of one hour in the case of the passing through atime zone, or of the position for resetting a fixed time. In the eventthat all of the positions described here are to be available then itturns out that the order mentioned above, in which these positions arepresented starting from the position of normal operation (E), is themost rational one, since the positions which will be used the most oftenare the closest to the position of normal operation.

It is clear that a watch could also be equipped with either positions ofthe type A, B, C, D, or positions of the type F, G, L, M, in anindependent manner. It could also provide only part of the positionsdescribed for each one of these two types.

Let us also point out that it would also be possible, as a variation inthe form of design represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, to make a preselectorcrown of the type of the preselector crown 5 to protrude sideways so asto be able to turn the preselector without any need of removing thewatch from the wrist.

It should also be noted that the kind of timepieces described abovewithin the framework of a wristwatch could also be suitable for othertypes of watches, as well as for small clocks, even for large clocks (inthis last case the preselector would be located preferably, however,somewhere else than the back of the clock).

Numerous means are known within the framework of electronic engineeringwhich, by making use ofintegrated circuits in particular for designingunits of very small dimensions, make it possible to establish circuitsby means of which the functions previously described can be carried out.FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the way in which these electronic circuitscould be made up.

The lower part of FIG. 7 shows a schematic working together with theswitch composed of the contacts 15a, 15b, and 150 and the socket 12. Itcan be seen that this scale is composed of two inverted OR gatesconnected so as to form a scale. In the state which is represented inFIG. 7 the driving mechanism 4 is released towards the outside and itcan be seen that, by means of the contact 15a 15b a positive voltage isimparted onto the input of a gate. This gate is also connected by aresistance to the source so that it is negative when the contact 15 doesnot send a positive voltage there. A second input of each gate isconnected to the output of each gate. In the situation involving thefigure the gate which receives a positive voltage will have a negativeoutput (since it is an inverted OR gate) so that the input of the othergate connected to its output will receive a negative voltage. Since theother input of the other gate also receives a negative voltage theoutput of the other gate will be positive, the potential of thispositive output being fed to the input of the first gate which wouldthus be maintained in the state where its output is negative even if thecontact 15b, 15a is broken. Thus, the point which is marked by a W inFIG. 7 receives a negative voltage in that position. At the moment thatone presses on the driving mechanism 4 and the socket 12 breaks thecontact 15a, 15b the point W retains its negative voltage. But at themoment when the socket l2 closes the contact 150, 15b one input of thesecond gate becomes positive, its output, as well as the second input ofthe other gate, becomes negative, and since the other input of the firstgate has already been made negative by the breaking of the contact 15b,15a this first gate assumes the condition that its output is positive.Similarly, the fact that the output of the first gate becomes positiveimparts a positive voltage to the other input of the second gate whichtherefore retains its condition where its output is negativeindependently of the contact 150, 15b. This system of scale control,which functions exactly in the same manner but in the other direction atthe moment that the driving mechanism 4 is released, provides at thepoint W an absolutely suitable switching independently of the possiblebounces which the opening or closing of the contacts 15 could cause.

At the top of FIG. 7 there is a group of three AND gates each one ofwhich has an input connected to the output W of the first inverted ORgate and each one of which has another input connected to one of thestuds 18 mentioned in conjunction with FIGS. 5 and 6. In actuality thereare not just the three AND gates R, S, T, but eleven similar gates. Forpurposes of ease of illustration, only three of these gates are shown inFIG. 7. Owing to the fact that a positive tension is fed to the ringcontact 23 (FIGS. 5 and 6) only the AND gate having its second inputconnected to that of the studs 18 which is connected to the ring 23 bythe contact element 21 will be capable of being thrown into gear orengaged, on the condition, however, that its other input, connected tothe output W of the inverted OR gate, also has a positive voltage. Thus,in the released position of the driving mechanism 4 none of the ANDgates R, S, T, can have a positive output since the output W of theinverted OR gate is negative. At the moment when the driving mechanism 4is pressed only one of these AND gates will be thrown into gear, that isto say the one whose other input receives a positive voltage by means ofthe contact element 21.

It is therefore easy to understand that each one of the differentlogical functions described previously and each one of which correspondsto a particular position of the preselector will be carried out by thepresence of a positive voltage at the output of one of the eleven ANDgates of which the three gates shown (R, S, T) are a part.

The FIG. 8 shows, by way of example, how the frequency of approximately1,000 Hz is fed to the input of the divider to achieve the rapid advanceserving to bring the read-out of the time at the desired position. Letus note that the frequency which is used here is a frequency of 1,024I-Iz. In effect, the frequency of 1 Hz which is necessary to normallycontrol the watch is obtained by successive binary divisions so that 10binary stages above the output 1 Hz have a frequency of 1,024 Hz whichis very easy to use.

In FIG. 8, gate U is connected in a manner which is similar to the gatesR, S, T, but which, instead of being a simple AND gate, is an invertedOR gate. This means that the output of the gate U will always bepositive ex cept when the conditions are present which would make itsoutput positive if it is a question of a noninverted AND gate. Theoutput of this inverted AND gate U is connected to an input of aninverted OR gate the other input of which is connected to the frequencysource of 1,024 Hz. Thus, the output of this inverted OR gate willalways have a negative voltage when the potential is positive at theoutput of the gate U, that is to say in all of the cases when theconditions are not present which are needed to throw this gate U intogear, whereas, when these conditions have been fulfilled and the outputof the gate U is negative, the output of the inverted OR gate willbecome alternately positive and negative at the pace of the 1,024 Hzfrequency which is connected to its other input. A frequency of 1,024 Hzwill therefore not be fed to the input of the divider (which will beexamined further on) unless the stud 18 corresponding to the gate U hasreceived a positive voltage from the ring 23, that is to say when thepreselection crown (or the preselector) is in the A position and thatsimultaneously the driving mechanism 4 has been pressed so as to enablea positive voltage to pass through the point W. When this condition hasnot been fulfilled the frequency of 1,024 Hz will not reach the input ofthe divider, but, according to the case, it will be another frequency,for example 64 Hz or 2 Hz which will reach the input of the divider. Thefrequency which reaches the input of the divider under normal operation,that is to say the frequency of 1 Hz exactly will be connectedpermanently to the input of this divider except in the case where thedriving mechanism is pressed into the stop position (B) of thepreselector. In order to cut off the arrival of this frequency of 1 Hzan electronic device is used which is similar to the one shown in FIG.8, but which has, instead of and in the place of the inverted AND gateU, a simple, therefore non-inverted, AND gate.

FIG. 9 shows, in the form of a block diagram, all of the circuitscontrolling the digital read-out of the watch. In that figure there is,schematically represented, the driving mechanism 4 with its contacts a,b, c and its scale with two inverted OR gates previously mentioned.Also, schematically shown is the selector with its 12 studs 18 one ofwhich is connected to the ring 23. The main electronic logic, onto whichthere jointly act the preselector and the driving mechanism, isrepresented by an LP block which, in addition to the order which itreceives from the driving mechanism and from the preselector, receivesfrom a frequency divider four signals having a frequency of 1 Hz, 2 Hz,64 Hz and 1,024 Hz, respectively. This logic block LP feeds the input ofa divider and also feeds five connections h, m, p, q, and r whichconnect the logic to certain particular places of the counting anddividing circuits which establish the digital read-out of the watch.

The four frequencies of 1 Hz, 2 Hz, 64 Hz and 1.024 Hz are obtained froma quartz oscillator through a divider (Div) comprising a series ofbinary stages.

The frequency of the quartz oscillator will be 1,024 Hz or a multiple onthe order 2' of 1,024 Hz. Two additional connections, shown by dottedlines, reach the main logic LP. One connection feeds a frequency of4,096 Hz from the divider. These connections shown by dotted lines areoptional and the need for them will depend, as will be seen, on the wayin which the setting of fixed time is done. It is clear that if thisfrequency of 4,096 Hz has to be supplied by the divider then thefrequency of the quartz oscillator will have to be 4,096 Hz or amultiple on the order of 2 of 4,096 Hz, unless the divider (Div) has oneor two multiplier stages to supply this frequency of 4,096 Hz, in whichcase the oscillator could very well operate at 1,024 Hz or 2,048 Hz.

The ordinary output of the LP logic supplies, under normal operation, afrequency of 1 Hz which is applied to the input of acounter-divider-decoder stage 51 operating with a cycle of 10'and whichis arranged first of all to count module 10, the pulses which it receives at the input, secondly to supply at its output a pulse each timethat it receives 10 input pulses, that is to say to perform a divisionby ten, and thirdly to decode the states of the internal counters insuch a way as to supply for each one of the 10 combined states possiblethe potentials which are desired to cause to appear the read-out of thecorresponding Arabic numeral in accordance with the principle ofcomposed read-out previously mentioned. In that case one is trulydealing with a "counter-divider-decoder" stage which presentdayelectronic engineering is capable of supplying in the form of integratedcircuits which, under certain forms of design, could also encompass thefield of optical posting itself(in general on the back ofa plate bearingthe other electronic elements right-side-up). After this firstcounter-divider-decoder module 10 stage 51 there is a secondcounter-divider-decoder module 6 stage 53. These two counters togethermake it possible to carry out the posting of the seconds and they alsosupply each minute, that is to say every 60 seconds, a pulse to asubsequent group of counters 55, 57 which is similar to it but whichthis time involves the posting of the information concerning theminutes. The output of the counter-divider-decoder 57 supplying thereadout of the tens of minutes provides a pulse every 60 minutes, thatis to say every hour, to a group of counters-dividers-decoders 59, 61arranged to establish a cycle having 12 or 24 positions, according towhether the watch is supposed to indicate 12 hours or 24 hours. It wouldbe possible to achieve the stage of the hours by means of a singlecounter with 12 or with 24 positions. For reasons of convenience ofelectronic design, it is preferred here to use a counter-divider-decodermodule 10 stage 59 followed by a counter-dividerdecoder module 3 stage61, which, together, would provide therefore a cycle of 30 hours butinterjecting means which reduce this cycle from 30 hours to 24 hours or,if need be, down to 12 hours. These means come from a technique which iswell known in electronics and therefore they have not been speciallyshown in FIG. 9.

Thus, the six counter-divider-decoder stages 51, 53, 55, 57, 59 and 61shown in the form of blocks in the top part of FIG. 9 permit the digitalread-out to advance so that each second the read-out of the units ofseconds advances by one step. Each time that the readout of the secondsadvances from 9 to O the read-out of the tens of seconds advances by onestep. Each time that the read-out of the tens of seconds passes from 5(59) to 0 the read-out of the units of minutes goes ahead by one step.Each time that the read-out of the units of minutes passes from 9 to 0the read-out of the tens of minutes advances by one step, and, each timethat the read-out of the tens of minutes advances from (59) to 0 theread-out of the hours advances by one step.

The bottom part of FIG. 9 shows the sequence of the electronic groupsupplying the read-out of the information on the day of the month, thedays of the week and the months.

Each cycle of 24 hours of the indication of the hours supplies a pulseto a connection n and it reaches, on the one hand, acounter-divider-decoder module 7 stage 63 which controls the posting ofthe days of the week and, on the other hand, a counter-divider-decoderstage 65 module 10 equipped to supply the posting of the units of theday of the month. This latter counter-dividerdecoder module 10 stage 65is connected to another counter-divider-decoder module 4 stage 67equipped so as to supply the indication of the tens of the days of themonth, it being understood that means (looping), not shown, provides thereduction of the theoretical cycle of 40 to an actual cycle of 31corresponding to the 31 days of the month.

Connected to the two counter-divider-decoders 65, 67 of the units and ofthe tens of the month there is a logic circuit 69. Its role is to detectthe passage of the day of the month from 31 (or from 30 or from 29 orfrom 28) to 01 in order to then cause the indication of the months toadvance by one step. Each time that this is necessary this logicsupplies a pulse to a counterdivider-decoder module 12 stage 71 arrangedto supply the digital read-out of the twelve months of the year. Itshould be noted that it could have been possible to do away with thelogic serving as an intermediary between the counters of the days of themonth and the counter of the months, and to control the counting of themonths from the tens of days of the month without the intermediary of alogic in the same manner as one controls the counting of the days of themonth from the divider-counter-decoder of the tens of hours. Thepresence of a logic circuit between the days of the month and the monthswill or will not be necessary depending upon the manner in which thecounter-divider-decoder stages are composed.

In effect, it is possible to make up these stages either in a reversiblemanner, that is to say by giving them the possibility of countingforwards and backwards, or in a non-reversible manner, that is to say byonly giving them the possibility of counting in one direction. Sincethey have to be able to move back 1 hour or 1 day, thecounters-dividers-decoders of the hours 59, 61 and of the days of themonth 65, 67 should theoretically be of the reversible type. It would,however, be possible to select them as of the non-reversible type byassuming that to make the counter ofthe hours go back by 1 hour it wouldbe set ahead by 23 hours, or, if the case need be, by l 1 hours, whereasin order to make the counter of the days of the month go back by one dayit would be set ahead by 30 days. This last possibility, however, wouldrequire the presence of an additional counter capable of counting forthe hours 23 (or if necessary 11) pulses and for the days of the month30 pulses. This requirement for an additional counter to count thepulses would make the last solution mentioned less advantageous thanthat which consists in selecting, at least for thecounters-dividers-decoders 59, 61 of the hours and for thecounters-dividers-decoders 65, 67 of the days of the month, counters ofthe reversible type. An excellent solution from the technical point ofview, but not necessarily the best, would consist in using reversiblecounters-dividers-decoders stages also for the days of the week and forthe months, despite the fact that these two counters never have to bemade to go back directly. In effect, it is quite possible that use willbe made, for example, of the delay of one hour intended for the passingacross time zones so that the indication of the hours goes back from 3oclock in the morning to for example 2300 hours (ll oclock in theevening). In this case the indication of the days and of the days of themonth should also move back. This does not create any problems in thecase when the subsequent counters, days of the month and days of theweek are also reversible counters. On the other hand this would presentsome problem if, for example, the counter of the days of the week wasnot of the reversible type (it has been mentioned that the counter ofthe days of the month should be of the reversible type).

The same holds true for the control of the indication of the months fromcounters involving the day of the month. If one assumes that the mostperfect solution consists in making the counters of the days of the weekand the months also reversible, in addition to the counters of the hoursand of the days of the month, it will be possible to carry out anautomatic carrying forward in such a way that, for example, havingthought that the month of October has 30 days and having manually madethe indication pass from October 31 to No vember 1, one must make theinverse correction to come back to 31, the indication of the monthpassing back from November to October. If the counter of the months werenot of the reversible type then the correction of this error would causethe watch to indicate 3] November instead of 31 October. It would thenbe necessary to once more advance the counter of the months by elevensteps in order to restore the correct date of the 31st of October.

Two of the most advantageous variants have been retained. The first oneis the most perfect variant mentioned above in which all of thecounters, except for the counters of the minutes and of the seconds, arereversible (can move backwards) and in which the carrying forward of thehours onto the days of the month and onto the days of the week and ofthe days of the month onto the months is also done in a reversiblemanner. The other solution retained as being advantageous is thefollowing simplified solution: the principal logic circuit whichconditions the manual control operations is arranged in such a way thatat the time of a manual command all of the carrying forward operationsare cut off so that, for example, if, by means of the advance of onehour for a time zone, one has made the indication pass from 2300 hoursto 1 hour (1 oclock) the day of the week and the day of the month arenot automatically affected and can be placed manually into the desiredposition. In this case the user knows that after each manual correctionthe subsequent indications do not follow, so that he will know that itis necessary to also correct them manually both when the deadline ofmidnight has been exceeded in the forward direction and when thedeadline of midnight has been exceeded in the backward direction. Adifficulty would occur with this solution, however, with regard to themonths, since for five months out of the 12 the passage from 31 to 1must be performed manually. It would therefore be possible to providefor a particular logic circuit which would also make the indication ofthe months advance when we jump the 29th, the 30th or the 31st of amonth. This is the reason why FIG. 9 establishes the presence of a logicat the output of the counters of the days of the month to control thecounter of the months. This logic will be arranged, for example, in sucha way that it transmits a pulse at the time of the passing of the daysof the month (the date of the month) to the position 01, on thecondition, however, that since the last pulse transmitted for theadvance of the months the counter of the days of the month has passed,for example, by the position 20, which could have not have occurred atthe time of the correction of an error or during the passing of a timezone making the day of the month go back from 1 to 31, in which casesthere is the risk of encountering disturbances owing to the fact thattwo successive pulses would be sent to the counter of the months.

It remains to see how the principal logic LP (FIG. 9) acts on thedifferent counters-dividers-decoders stages to carry out the variousoperations of manual control. For the four operations in which theadvance of the indication has to be made in an accelerated manner (2 Hz,advance of the seconds), in a rapid manner (64 Hz, advance of theminutes) or in a super-fast manner (1,024 Hz, advance of the hours), noadditional explanation is necessary. The logic makes it possible totransmit higher frequencies to the input of the firstcounter-divider-decoder and also in a manner which does not requireother additional explanations, the logic proceeds to completely stop thearrival of the frequency of 1 Hz when the driving mechanism is placed inthe stop position of the preselector.

For the resetting to a fixed time there are two possibilitics. The firstone, which corresponds to what has been said at the time of thefunctional explanation of the operation of resetting to a fixed time,consists in transmitting to the input of the counter-decoder of theminutes a frequency of 4,096 Hz and to decode the passage of theindication by the preselected position. This case would correspond inthe figure to the connections drawn in by dashes, in assuming that theconnection r which connects the principal logic LP to thecountersdividers-decoders of the minutes, of the tens of minutes, of thehours and of the tens of hours constitutes the connection of decoding,the decoder itself being assumed as surrounded by the LP logic. In orderto use this possibility, it is necessary to have a frequency of 4,096 Hzwhich, according to the case, could increase the encumbrance of thedivider (Div) and complicate the design of the oscillator. in theresetting to fixed time, as described previously, provision was alsomade to bring all of the counters and minutes first of all to 0. Acounter-divider-decoder generally has an additional input for puttingback to O. The putting back to in question, therefore, if necessary, isdone by the logic by using this particular input of setting back to O.The particular connection necessary for this putting back to 0 is notshown in the figure. It should be stated that in any event the puttingback to 0 prior to the putting back to a fixed time is absolutelynecessary only for the two counters-dividers-decoders of the seconds andof the tens of seconds. It is, on the other hand, completely possible todo away with this necessity in the case of thecounters-dividers-decoders of the hours and of the minutes.

Another possibility which does not necessitate the utilization of afrequency of 4,096 Hz consists in sending a potential from the principallogic LP through the intermediary of the connection r. This potentialforces each one of the four counters of the minutes, of the tens ofminutes, of the hours and of the tens of hours to get into a welldetermined position which could also be selected by switching of wiringinside of the watch which could be done, for example, with the aid ofdetachable screws.

With this second solution the prior setting to 0 is also not absolutelynecessary except for the seconds and for the tens of seconds. It doesnot have to be done, but can be if desired, for the minutes, tens ofminutes, hours and tens of hours.

Upon the command from the driving mechanism or from the preselector theLP logic carries out the advance or the bringing back ofa complete hour(the passage of time zones) by sending a pulse for advancing or bringingback, through the intermediary of the connection h, to thecounter-divider-decoder of the units of hours which, as we have seen,should to all advantages be of the reversible-operation type. If thiscounterdivider-decoder were not of the reversible-operation type thenthe principal logic could act by sending it a series of 23 (or, ifnecessary,! 1) pulses, which would result in making the hours advance by23 (or by l l) successive steps. In such a case the movements in thedirection of the counters of the days of the month and of the days ofthe week should be blocked by an action on the part of the principallogic. One could also contemplate the case when, during an advance ofthe hours by 23 steps, the movements forward would not be blocked, butwhere one would then make all of the subsequentcounters-dividers-decoders of acycle advance, less one unit, so as tocause them to effect the equivalent of one backward step of one unit.However, this solution requires the presence of an additional pulsecounter and it turns out that this solution is not advantageous incomparison with the solution which consists in only using reversiblecounters.

The operation of going ahead by one day or going behind by one day isdone in a manner which is similar to the operation of going ahead orgoing behind by 1 hour by sending an appropriate pulse from the LPlogic, through the intermediary of the connection m, to thecounter-divider-decoder of the units of the days of the month.

The operations, still controlled by the driving mechanism and thepreselector, of advancing by one step of the days of the week or of themonths are controlled in a similar manner by the principal logic LP,acting by means of the connections p and q, respectively, on thecounters-dividers-decoders of the days of the week and of the months(for the months, if necessary, on the logic preceding thecounter-divider-decoder).

It is important to point out that all of the electronic means hereindescribed, and in particular all of the logical electronic means whichthe principal logic LP should contain, could be composed of certainelectronic means which are known in this branch of technology, theelements which distinguish the watch which is the subject of the presentdescription are primarily, but not exclusively, the technical measureswhich have to do with the manner in which the watch is controlledexternally by means of the driving mechanism and the preselector tocarry out the various functions which have been described, as well asthe technical measures which have to do with the nature of thesedifferent functions and the manner in which they are carried out to forman ensemble permitting a manual control which is as easy as concerningthe digital read-out of the watch.

In the case, for example, when the totality of thecounters-dividers-decoders of the days of the month would be programmedin accordance with the yearly or perpetual calendar so that the days ofthe month which are missing at the end of the months of February, April,June, September and November are skipped automatically, it would bepossible to do away with all or a part of the manual controls concerningthe date.

l claim:

1. An electronically operated timepiece having a plurality of digitalread-out elements, and comprising means to selectively manually operateat least some of the digital read-out elements, said means comprising apreselector capable of being placed in different rotational positionsand a driving mechanism, said preselector comprising a rotatable elementmounted on the side of the timepiece opposite the face and accessibleexternally to be rotated to different angular positions corresponding tovarious settings of the preselector, and said driving mechanismcomprising a rod which penetrates into the time piece, said rod beingarranged to be manipulated to change its depth of penetration into thetimepiece, both said preselector and driving mechanism being arranged insuch a manner that the position occupied by the preselector at the timethat the driving mechanism is manipulated determines which digitalread-out element is to be affected by the manipulation of the drivingmechanism, as well as the function actuation imparted to this element,said timepiece further comprising an arrangement of said preselectorsuch that said rotatable element works together'with said drivingmechanism in such a way that in the various setting positions of thepreselector the driving mechanism can be at least partially depressedinto the timepiece, whereas when said preselector is located between twoof said setting positions said driving mechanism can only occupy itsmost retracted position, said preselector being prevented from turningfrom one setting position to another unless said driving mechanismoccupies this most retracted position.

2. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable elementworks together with said driving mechanism in sucha way that in aposition .of normal operaouter periphery of said crown shaped rotatableelement is not larger than the periphery of said timepiece housmg.

5. A timepiece accordingto claim 3, wherein the periphery of said crownshaped rotatable element is proportioned and mounted on the housing ofthe timepiece in such a way as to overlap at least one of the sides ofthe housing so as to be able to be turned even when said timepiece isplaced on the wrist of its wearer.

6. An electronically operated timepiece having a plurality of digitalread-out elements, and comprising means to selectively manually operateat least some of the digital read-out elements, said means comprising apreselector capable of being placed in different rotational positionsand a driving mechanism, both said preselector and driving mechanismbeing arranged in such a manner that the position occupied by thepreselector at the time that the driving mechanism is manipulateddetermines which digital read-out element is to be affected by themanipulation of the driving mechanism, as well as the function actuationimparted to this element, said preselector further having a position ofnormal operation wherein the manipulation of the driving mechanism hasno effect on the positioning of said digital read-out elements.

7. A timepiece according to claim 6, wherein said preselector and saiddriving mechanism work together in such a way that when the preselectoris in said position of normal operation said driving mechanism can bemanipulated between two positions respectively locking and unlockingrotation of said preselector, with the locking position capable of beingsecured.

8. A timepiece according to claim 7, wherein said preselector has aposition of accelerated advance in which the manipulation of saiddriving mechanism makes the digital read-out elements advance at a speedsuch that the hour indicated advances by one hour in less than fiveseconds.

9. A timepiece in accordance with claim 7, wherein said preselector hasa position of accelerated advance in which the manipulation of saiddriving mechanism makes the digital read-out elements advance ata speedsuch that the minute indicated advances by one minute over a periodbetween a half a second and five seconds.

10. A timepiece according to claim 7, wherein said preselector has aposition of accelerated advance in which the manipulation of the drivingmechanism makes the digital read-out elements advance at a speed whichis twice the speed of normal operation.

11. A timepiece according to claim 7, wherein said preselector includesa stop position in which the manipulation of the driving mechanism stopsthe advance of the digital read-out elements.

12. A timepiece according to claim 7, wherein said 7 preselector hassequentially following the normal position at least four adjacentoperating positions which are a position in which the manipulation ofsaid driving mechanism stops the advance of the digital read-outelements; a position in which the manipulation of the driving mechanismmakes the digital read-out elements advance at a speed which is twicethat of normal operation; a position in which the manipulation of thedriving mechanism makes the digital read-out elements advance at a speedsuch that an advance of one minute is brought about during a period ofbetween ahalf a second and 5 seconds; and aposition in which themanipulation of the driving mechanism makes the digital read-outelements advance at a speed such that an advance of 1 hour is broughtabout in less than 5 seconds.

13. A timepieceaccording to claim 7, wherein said preselector furtherincludes a position in which the manipulation of the driving mechanismcauses a resetting of the digital read-out elements to a predeterminedtime.

14. A timepiece according to claim 7, wherein said preselector furtherincludes a position in which the manipulation of the driving mechanismcauses an advance of the digital read-out elements which is exactlyequal to 1 hour.

15. A timepiece according to claim 14, wherein said preselector alsoincludes a position in which the manipulation of the driving mechanismcauses a setting back of the digital read-out elements by exactly 1hour.

16. A timepiece according to claim 7, further comprising digitalread-out elements indicating the calendar date as well as the time, saidpreselector having a further position in which the manipulation of saiddriving mechanism causes an advance of said digital readout elements byone day of the month.

17. A timepiece according to claim 6, wherein said preselector alsoincludes a position in which the manipulation of said driving mechanismcauses a setting back of said digital read-out elements by one day ofthe month.

18. A timepiece according to claim 16, wherein said preselector includesa position in which the manipulation of the driving mechanism causes thedigitalreadout elements to advance by one month.

19. A timepiece according to claim 16, wherein said digital read-outelements indicating the calendar date comprise digital read-out elementsfor the days of the week, said preselector including a further positionin which the manipulation of said driving mechanism causes said digitalread-out elements to advance by one day of the week.

20. A timepiece according to claim 19, wherein said positions of thepreselector are broken down, starting with the position of normaloperation according to an order such that there are successivelypresented: the positionof normal operation; a position of resetting to apredetermined fixed time; a position of advance by 1 hour; a position ofsetting back by 1 hour; a position of advance by one day of the month; aposition of setting back by one day of the month; a position of advanceby one month; and a position of advance by one day of the week.

21,. A timepiece according to claim 20, wherein said preselectorincludes, on one side of the position of normal operation, variouspositions of accelerated advance of the digital read-out elements and aposition stopping advance of said digital read-out elements, and on theother side of the position of normal operation positions of resetting tofixed time, of advance and setting back of one hour, of advance andsetting back of one day in the month, of advance of one month and ofadvance of one day of the week.

22. An electronically operated timepiece having a plurality of digitalread-out elements, and comprising means to selectively manually operateat least some of the digital read-out elements, said means comprising apreselector capable of being placed in different rotational positionsand a driving mechanism, both said preselector and driving mechanismbeing arranged in such a manner that the position occupied by thepreselector at the time that the driving mechanism is manipulateddetermines which digital read-out element is to be affected by themanipulation of the driving mechanism, as well as the function actuationimparted to this element, further comprising electronic circuitsoperatively connected to control said digital read-out elements, saidcircuits comprising successive countersdividers-decoders stages havingan input, means feeding a l Hz signal to said input at least in theabsence of a manipulation ordering an accelerated advance or a stoppingof the digital read-out'elements, the countersdividers-decoders stagesbeing arranged to actuate successively during the course of theiroperation: first digital read-out elements numbered from 0 to 9 for theunits of seconds; second digital read-out elements numbered from 0 to 5for the tens of seconds; third digital read-out elements numbered from 0to 9 for the units of minutes; fourth digital read-out elements numberedfrom 0 to 5 for the tens of minutes; and fifth and sixth digitalread-out elements numbered for the hours.

23. A timepiece according to claim 22, further comprising digitalread-out elements for the days of the month, the months and the days ofthe week, further counters-dividers-decoders stages fed at their inputat a rate of one pulse per cycle of 24 hours of the precedingcounters-dividers-decoders stages, and said further digital read-outelements being arranged to provide the numbered combinations of digitalread-out of the days of the month, the combinations of alphabeticdigital read-out of the months and the combinations of alphabeticdigital read-outof the days of the week.

24. A timepiece according to claim 22, wherein said driving mechanism isprovided with electrical contacts and said preselector further comprisesmeans to establish, in its different positions, electrical contactswhich, dependent upon said electrical contacts of said drivingmechanism, feed a potential to said counters-dividersdecoders stages.

25. A timepiece according to claim 22, further comprising logic circuitsarranged to carry out accelerated advance of said digital read-outelements by introducing into the first counter-divider-decoder afrequency which is higher than 1 Hz, this higher frequency being 2 Hzfor double-speed operation, 64 Hz for the advance of 1 minute during aperiod between a half a second and 5 seconds, and 1,024 Hz for theadvance of 1 hour in less than 5 seconds.

26. A timepiece according to claim 25, further comprising a frequencygenerating source of n-1,024 Hz, where n is an integer, said frequencygenerating source being connected to feed to the input of the firstcounter-divider-decoder, a divider with successive binary stagesprovided to reduce this frequency to the value of 1 Hz fed to said inputduringnormal operation, and to supply frequencies of 2 Hz, 64 Hz, and1,024 Hz, respectively, fed to the input for the various positions ofaccelerated advance.

27. A timepiece according to claim 26, wherein said frequency generatingsource is a quartz oscillator.

28. A timepiece according to claim 22, further comprising logic circuitsarranged to feed, when the driving mechanism is placed in the positionof the preselector corresponding to the resetting to fixed time,potentials of required positioning to the counters-dividersdecodersstages supplying the digital read-out elements of the units of minutes,tens of minutes, and of hours.

29. A timepiece according to claim 22, further comprising logic circuitsarranged to supply, at the time of a manipulation of the drivingmechanism when the preselector is in the position of advance by onehour, a pulse to the input of the counters-dividers-decoders stagessupplying the digital read-out elements for the hours.

30. A timepiece according to claim 22, wherein thecounters-dividers-decoders stages supplying the digital read-outelements for hours are of reversible operation, said logic circuitsbeing equipped to supply, at the time of a manipulation of the drivingmechanism arising when the preselector is in the position of advance by1 hour, an advance pulse to these counters-dividersdecoders stages andto provide them with a backward pulse at the time ofa manipulation ofthe driving mechanism when the preselector is in the position of settingback by 1 hour.

31. A timepiece according to claim 23, further comprising logic circuitsarranged to supply, at the time of a manipulation of the drivingmechanism when the preselector is in the position of advance by one dayof the month, a pulse to the input of the counters-dividersdecodersstages supplying the digital read-out elements for the days of themonth.

32. A timepiece according to claim 31, wherein thecounters-decoders-dividers stages supplying the readout of the days ofthe month are of reversible operation, said logic circuits beingarranged to supply, at the time of a manipulation of the drivingmechanism when the preselector is in the position of advance by one dayof the month, a pulse advance to said digital read-out elements for thedays of the month, and to provide a setting back pulse at the time of amanipulation of the driving mechanism when the preselector is in theposition of setting back by one day of the month.

33. A timepiece according to claim 23, further comprising logic circuitsarranged to supply, at the time of a manipulation of the drivingmechanism when the preselector is in the position of advance by onemonth, a pulse to the input of the counters-dividers-decoders stagessupplying the digital read-out elements for the months.

34. A timepiece according to claim 23, further comprising logic circuitsarranged to supply, at the time of a manipulation of the drivingmechanism when the preselector is in the position of advance by one dayof the week, a pulse to the input of the counters-dividersdecodersstages supplying the digital read-out elements for the days of the week.

35. A timepiece according to claim 23, wherein thecounters-dividers-decoders stages supplying the digital read-outelements for the hours, the days of the month, the days of the week andthe months, are all of reversible operation, further comprisingelectrical connection means between the reversiblecounters-dividersdecoders stages of the hours and those of the days ofthe month, between the reversible counters-dividersdecoders stages ofthe hours and those of the days of the week, and between the reversiblecountersdividers-decoders stages of the days of the month and those ofthe months, said electrical connection means being established in such away that a setting back manipulation of the driving mechanism andpreselector which drives back a counters-dividers-decoders stage fromthe first position of a cycle to the last position of the precedingcycle causes the next counters-dividersdecoders stage to execute abackwards operation.

36. A timepiece according to claim 23, wherein thecounters-dividers-decoders stages are non-reversible, a setting backinput pulse causing an advance of the related digital read-out elementof n-l, n being the number of steps in the counting cycle of the relatedcounting stage.

37. A timepiece according to claim 23, further comprising logic circuitsarranged to supply, at the time of a manipulation of the drivingmechanism when the preselector is in a predetermined position, at leastone pulse to the input of a counters-dividers-decoders stage selected asa function of the position of the preselector, said logic circuits beingfurther arranged to cut off the carry pulse from onecounters-dividers-decoders stage to the next one.

1. An electronically operated timepiece having a plurality of digitalread-out elements, and comprising means to selectively manually operateat least some of the digital read-out elements, said means comprising apreselector capable of being placed in different rotational positionsand a driving mechanism, said preselector comprising a rotatable elementmounted on the side of the timepiece opposite the face and accessibleexternally to be rotated to different angular positions corresponding tovarious settings of the preselector, and said driving mechanismcomprising a rod which penetrates into the time piece, said rod beingarranged to be manipulated to change its depth of penetration into thetimepiece, both said preselector and driving mechanism being arranged insuch a manner that the position ocCupied by the preselector at the timethat the driving mechanism is manipulated determines which digitalread-out element is to be affected by the manipulation of the drivingmechanism, as well as the function actuation imparted to this element,said timepiece further comprising an arrangement of said preselectorsuch that said rotatable element works together with said drivingmechanism in such a way that in the various setting positions of thepreselector the driving mechanism can be at least partially depressedinto the timepiece, whereas when said preselector is located between twoof said setting positions said driving mechanism can only occupy itsmost retracted position, said preselector being prevented from turningfrom one setting position to another unless said driving mechanismoccupies this most retracted position.
 2. A timepiece according to claim1, wherein said rotatable element works together with said drivingmechanism in such a way that in a position of normal operation of saidpreselector said driving mechanism can enter more deeply into the sideof the timepiece than in the other positions of said preselector.
 3. Atimepiece according to claim 1, wherein said timepiece further comprisesa housing having a face side and a cylindrical recess for storing anelectrical battery in the side opposite the face, said preselectorcomprising a rotatable element in the shape of a crown situated aroundsaid cylindrical recess.
 4. A timepiece according to claim 3, whereinthe outer periphery of said crown shaped rotatable element is not largerthan the periphery of said timepiece housing.
 5. A timepiece accordingto claim 3, wherein the periphery of said crown shaped rotatable elementis proportioned and mounted on the housing of the timepiece in such away as to overlap at least one of the sides of the housing so as to beable to be turned even when said timepiece is placed on the wrist of itswearer.
 6. An electronically operated timepiece having a plurality ofdigital read-out elements, and comprising means to selectively manuallyoperate at least some of the digital read-out elements, said meanscomprising a preselector capable of being placed in different rotationalpositions and a driving mechanism, both said preselector and drivingmechanism being arranged in such a manner that the position occupied bythe preselector at the time that the driving mechanism is manipulateddetermines which digital read-out element is to be affected by themanipulation of the driving mechanism, as well as the function actuationimparted to this element, said preselector further having a position ofnormal operation wherein the manipulation of the driving mechanism hasno effect on the positioning of said digital read-out elements.
 7. Atimepiece according to claim 6, wherein said preselector and saiddriving mechanism work together in such a way that when the preselectoris in said position of normal operation said driving mechanism can bemanipulated between two positions respectively locking and unlockingrotation of said preselector, with the locking position capable of beingsecured.
 8. A timepiece according to claim 7, wherein said preselectorhas a position of accelerated advance in which the manipulation of saiddriving mechanism makes the digital read-out elements advance at a speedsuch that the hour indicated advances by one hour in less than fiveseconds.
 9. A timepiece in accordance with claim 7, wherein saidpreselector has a position of accelerated advance in which themanipulation of said driving mechanism makes the digital read-outelements advance at a speed such that the minute indicated advances byone minute over a period between a half a second and five seconds.
 10. Atimepiece according to claim 7, wherein said preselector has a positionof accelerated advance in which the manipulation of the drivingmechanism makes the digital read-out elements advance at a speed whichis twice the speed of normal operation.
 11. A timepiece accorDing toclaim 7, wherein said preselector includes a stop position in which themanipulation of the driving mechanism stops the advance of the digitalread-out elements.
 12. A timepiece according to claim 7, wherein saidpreselector has sequentially following the normal position at least fouradjacent operating positions which are a position in which themanipulation of said driving mechanism stops the advance of the digitalread-out elements; a position in which the manipulation of the drivingmechanism makes the digital read-out elements advance at a speed whichis twice that of normal operation; a position in which the manipulationof the driving mechanism makes the digital read-out elements advance ata speed such that an advance of one minute is brought about during aperiod of between a half a second and 5 seconds; and a position in whichthe manipulation of the driving mechanism makes the digital read-outelements advance at a speed such that an advance of 1 hour is broughtabout in less than 5 seconds.
 13. A timepiece according to claim 7,wherein said preselector further includes a position in which themanipulation of the driving mechanism causes a resetting of the digitalread-out elements to a predetermined time.
 14. A timepiece according toclaim 7, wherein said preselector further includes a position in whichthe manipulation of the driving mechanism causes an advance of thedigital read-out elements which is exactly equal to 1 hour.
 15. Atimepiece according to claim 14, wherein said preselector also includesa position in which the manipulation of the driving mechanism causes asetting back of the digital read-out elements by exactly 1 hour.
 16. Atimepiece according to claim 7, further comprising digital read-outelements indicating the calendar date as well as the time, saidpreselector having a further position in which the manipulation of saiddriving mechanism causes an advance of said digital read-out elements byone day of the month.
 17. A timepiece according to claim 6, wherein saidpreselector also includes a position in which the manipulation of saiddriving mechanism causes a setting back of said digital read-outelements by one day of the month.
 18. A timepiece according to claim 16,wherein said preselector includes a position in which the manipulationof the driving mechanism causes the digital read-out elements to advanceby one month.
 19. A timepiece according to claim 16, wherein saiddigital read-out elements indicating the calendar date comprise digitalread-out elements for the days of the week, said preselector including afurther position in which the manipulation of said driving mechanismcauses said digital read-out elements to advance by one day of the week.20. A timepiece according to claim 19, wherein said positions of thepreselector are broken down, starting with the position of normaloperation according to an order such that there are successivelypresented: the position of normal operation; a position of resetting toa predetermined fixed time; a position of advance by 1 hour; a positionof setting back by 1 hour; a position of advance by one day of themonth; a position of setting back by one day of the month; a position ofadvance by one month; and a position of advance by one day of the week.21. A timepiece according to claim 20, wherein said preselectorincludes, on one side of the position of normal operation, variouspositions of accelerated advance of the digital read-out elements and aposition stopping advance of said digital read-out elements, and on theother side of the position of normal operation positions of resetting tofixed time, of advance and setting back of one hour, of advance andsetting back of one day in the month, of advance of one month and ofadvance of one day of the week.
 22. An electronically operated timepiecehaving a plurality of digital read-out elements, and comprising means toselectively manually operate at Least some of the digital read-outelements, said means comprising a preselector capable of being placed indifferent rotational positions and a driving mechanism, both saidpreselector and driving mechanism being arranged in such a manner thatthe position occupied by the preselector at the time that the drivingmechanism is manipulated determines which digital read-out element is tobe affected by the manipulation of the driving mechanism, as well as thefunction actuation imparted to this element, further comprisingelectronic circuits operatively connected to control said digitalread-out elements, said circuits comprising successivecounters-dividers-decoders stages having an input, means feeding a 1 Hzsignal to said input at least in the absence of a manipulation orderingan accelerated advance or a stopping of the digital read-out elements,the counters-dividers-decoders stages being arranged to actuatesuccessively during the course of their operation: first digitalread-out elements numbered from 0 to 9 for the units of seconds; seconddigital read-out elements numbered from 0 to 5 for the tens of seconds;third digital read-out elements numbered from 0 to 9 for the units ofminutes; fourth digital read-out elements numbered from 0 to 5 for thetens of minutes; and fifth and sixth digital read-out elements numberedfor the hours.
 23. A timepiece according to claim 22, further comprisingdigital read-out elements for the days of the month, the months and thedays of the week, further counters-dividers-decoders stages fed at theirinput at a rate of one pulse per cycle of 24 hours of the precedingcounters-dividers-decoders stages, and said further digital read-outelements being arranged to provide the numbered combinations of digitalread-out of the days of the month, the combinations of alphabeticdigital read-out of the months and the combinations of alphabeticdigital read-out of the days of the week.
 24. A timepiece according toclaim 22, wherein said driving mechanism is provided with electricalcontacts and said preselector further comprises means to establish, inits different positions, electrical contacts which, dependent upon saidelectrical contacts of said driving mechanism, feed a potential to saidcounters-dividers-decoders stages.
 25. A timepiece according to claim22, further comprising logic circuits arranged to carry out acceleratedadvance of said digital read-out elements by introducing into the firstcounter-divider-decoder a frequency which is higher than 1 Hz, thishigher frequency being 2 Hz for double-speed operation, 64 Hz for theadvance of 1 minute during a period between a half a second and 5seconds, and 1,024 Hz for the advance of 1 hour in less than 5 seconds.26. A timepiece according to claim 25, further comprising a frequencygenerating source of n.1,024 Hz, where n is an integer, said frequencygenerating source being connected to feed to the input of the firstcounter-divider-decoder, a divider with successive binary stagesprovided to reduce this frequency to the value of 1 Hz fed to said inputduring normal operation, and to supply frequencies of 2 Hz, 64 Hz, and1,024 Hz, respectively, fed to the input for the various positions ofaccelerated advance.
 27. A timepiece according to claim 26, wherein saidfrequency generating source is a quartz oscillator.
 28. A timepieceaccording to claim 22, further comprising logic circuits arranged tofeed, when the driving mechanism is placed in the position of thepreselector corresponding to the resetting to fixed time, potentials ofrequired positioning to the counters-dividers-decoders stages supplyingthe digital read-out elements of the units of minutes, tens of minutes,and of hours.
 29. A timepiece according to claim 22, further comprisinglogic circuits arranged to supply, at the time of a manipulatIon of thedriving mechanism when the preselector is in the position of advance byone hour, a pulse to the input of the counters-dividers-decoders stagessupplying the digital read-out elements for the hours.
 30. A timepieceaccording to claim 22, wherein the counters-dividers-decoders stagessupplying the digital read-out elements for hours are of reversibleoperation, said logic circuits being equipped to supply, at the time ofa manipulation of the driving mechanism arising when the preselector isin the position of advance by 1 hour, an advance pulse to thesecounters-dividers-decoders stages and to provide them with a backwardpulse at the time of a manipulation of the driving mechanism when thepreselector is in the position of setting back by 1 hour.
 31. Atimepiece according to claim 23, further comprising logic circuitsarranged to supply, at the time of a manipulation of the drivingmechanism when the preselector is in the position of advance by one dayof the month, a pulse to the input of the counters-dividers-decodersstages supplying the digital read-out elements for the days of themonth.
 32. A timepiece according to claim 31, wherein thecounters-decoders-dividers stages supplying the read-out of the days ofthe month are of reversible operation, said logic circuits beingarranged to supply, at the time of a manipulation of the drivingmechanism when the preselector is in the position of advance by one dayof the month, a pulse advance to said digital read-out elements for thedays of the month, and to provide a setting back pulse at the time of amanipulation of the driving mechanism when the preselector is in theposition of setting back by one day of the month.
 33. A timepieceaccording to claim 23, further comprising logic circuits arranged tosupply, at the time of a manipulation of the driving mechanism when thepreselector is in the position of advance by one month, a pulse to theinput of the counters-dividers-decoders stages supplying the digitalread-out elements for the months.
 34. A timepiece according to claim 23,further comprising logic circuits arranged to supply, at the time of amanipulation of the driving mechanism when the preselector is in theposition of advance by one day of the week, a pulse to the input of thecounters-dividers-decoders stages supplying the digital read-outelements for the days of the week.
 35. A timepiece according to claim23, wherein the counters-dividers-decoders stages supplying the digitalread-out elements for the hours, the days of the month, the days of theweek and the months, are all of reversible operation, further comprisingelectrical connection means between the reversiblecounters-dividers-decoders stages of the hours and those of the days ofthe month, between the reversible counters-dividers-decoders stages ofthe hours and those of the days of the week, and between the reversiblecounters-dividers-decoders stages of the days of the month and those ofthe months, said electrical connection means being established in such away that a setting back manipulation of the driving mechanism andpreselector which drives back a counters-dividers-decoders stage fromthe first position of a cycle to the last position of the precedingcycle causes the next counters-dividers-decoders stage to execute abackwards operation.
 36. A timepiece according to claim 23, wherein thecounters-dividers-decoders stages are non-reversible, a setting backinput pulse causing an advance of the related digital read-out elementof n-1, n being the number of steps in the counting cycle of the relatedcounting stage.
 37. A timepiece according to claim 23, furthercomprising logic circuits arranged to supply, at the time of amanipulation of the driving mechanism when the preselector is in apredetermined position, at least one pulse to the input of acounters-dividers-decoders stage selected as a function of the positionof the preselector, said logic circuits being further arrangEd to cutoff the carry pulse from one counters-dividers-decoders stage to thenext one.